Chapter 10 - Crimson Secrets
Clara grasped Edward's arm harder, feeling his body sag slightly against hers. The boardroom members were too busy collecting their documents in panic to notice, but Clara saw the slight tremor in his jaw.
""Meeting adjourned,"" Edward said evenly. ""Sean, clear the room.""
The moment the mahogany doors sealed behind the last board member, Edward’s knees buckled. Clara caught him under the arms, struggling against his deadweight as Sean rushed forward to support his other side.
""Boss!"" Sean called, easing him down onto the long conference table.
Clara ripped open Edward's tuxedo shirt, popping pearl buttons across the floor. Beneath his ribs, an old surgical incision from the car crash had torn open, weeping dark, venous blood mixed with clear serous fluid.
""The chest trauma from the crash never fully healed,"" Sean said grimly, pulling a medical compression kit from his vest. ""Richard’s doctor didn't just sedate him; they deliberately withheld post-op antibiotics to induce septic necrosis.""
""He needs a sterile surgical suite immediately,"" Clara said, her voice dropping into the calm, focused rhythm of a medic. Years of caring for street companions with untreated knife wounds and infections took over. ""Not an ambulance—Richard's associates might still monitor the local hospital dispatch.""
""We have a private medical bay at our coastal safehouse,"" Sean said. ""Ten minutes by chopper.""
Edward groaned, his hand weakly reaching up to grasp Clara’s collar, pulling her down. ""Don't... don't let them take you,"" he whispered, fever burning behind his eyes. ""Richard wasn't working alone. The contract... it wasn't his handwriting.""
Clara’s heart seized. ""What contract?""
""The hit,"" Edward choked out, a trickle of blood escaping the corner of his lips. ""It was signed by... the Vance Trust.""
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Clara froze. Vance. That was her maiden name—the name of her father who supposedly died penniless in a public ward seven years ago.
Before she could speak, Edward’s eyes rolled back, and his head slumped sideways onto the mahogany table.
